Floribunda rose plant named `Meideauri`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plant is provided which abundantly forms attractive Rose Bengal blossoms that exhibit a light fragrance. Such blossoms possess a very romantic shape that is similar to that of old roses. The plant exhibits a bushy growth habit. Attractive dense medium green and glossy vegetation is formed. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as ornamentation in the landscape. The blossoms well resist rain and commonly open completely even under very humid conditionsl Good Resistance to Marssonina and black spot diseases also is provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Floribunda rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the`Sommerwind` variety (non-patented in the United States). The maleparent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the new variety was the product ofthe cross of the `Delbir` variety (non-patented in the United States)and the `Rosamunde` variety (non-patented in the United States). The`Delbir` variety is marketed under the MILROSE tradmark. The parentageof the new variety can be summarized as follows:

    `Sommerwind`×(`Delbir`×`Rosamunde`).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and 73 smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Floribunda rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) forms in abundance attractive Rose Bengal blossoms,

(b) exhibits a bushy growth habit,

(c) exhibits blossoms having a light fragrance,

(d) forms attractive dense medium green and glossy vegetation,

(e) exhibits good resistance to Marssonina and black spot; and

(f) is particularly well suited for growing as ornamentation in thelandscape.

The blossoms possess a very romantic shape that is similar to that ofold roses.

The new variety has undergone asexual propagation by a number of routesin France, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. The characteristicsof the new variety have been found to be strictly transmissible by suchasexual propagation from one generation to another in France.

The new variety has been named the `Meideauri` variety, and is beingmarketed under the LEONARDO DA VINCI trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were two years of age and were observed duringSeptember while growing outdoors on Rosa froebelii understock at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France.

FIG. 1 -- illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 -- illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening ofthe sepals;

FIG. 3 -- illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4 -- illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5 -- illustrates a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 -- illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view --obverse;

FIG. 7 -- illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view --reverse;

FIG. 8 -- illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --obverse;

FIG. 9 -- illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --reverse;

FIG. 10 -- illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistals;

FIG. 11 -- illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 -- illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 -- illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 -- illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets -- uppersurface;

FIG. 15 -- illustrates specimens of two leaves with five leaflets --upper surface (left) and under surface (right); and

FIG. 16 -- illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets -- undersurface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The terminology whichprecedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate thecorresponding color in more common terms. The description is based ontwo-year-old specimens of the new variety during September while growingoutdoors on Rosa froebelii understock at Le Cannet des Maures, Var,France.

Class: Floribunda.

Plant:

Height.--Plants commonly achieve a height of approximately 70 to 110 cm.At the end of the growing season.

Habit.--Bushy.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: light green, Yellow-Green Group 146D. Adult wood:light green. Yellow-Green Group 144C.

Thorns.--Size: medium. Quantity: numerous (as illustrated). Color:somewhat reddish on young stems and greenish-tan on mature wood (asillustrated).

Leaves:

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, and rather wide and linear.

Petioles--Upper surface: striped reddish on young foliage and mediumgreen on adult foliage with more than or less glandular edges. Undersuface: light green and bear some small thorns.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5 and 7 (most often). Shape: oval. Serration:single and regular (as illustrated). texture: leathery. Generalappearance; dense and glossy foliage. Color (Young foliage): Uppersurface: medium green, Green Group 138A, and more or less maculated withreddish coloration. Under surface: light green, Green Group 138B. Color(adult foliage): Upper surface: medium green, Yellow-Green Group 146B.Under surface: light green. Yellow-Green Group 146 C, and widely tintedwith reddish coloration.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Commonly approximately 1 to 6 flowers per stem.

Peduncle.--Medium green with more or less glandular edges and commonlytinted with reddish coloration, and approximately 3 cm. in length onaverage.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose, and greenish and sometimes tintedwith reddish coloration. Under surface: light green and sometimes withappendiculated edges.

Buds.--Shape: globular. Length: approximately 2 to 2.5 cm on average.Size: large. Color upon opening: Upper surface: Neyron Rose, Red-PurpleGroup 58C. Under surface: China Rose, Red-Purple Group 58D.

Flower.--Shape: similar to old roses (as illustrated), and opens welleven uner very humid conditions. Diameter: approximately 9 to 10 cm. onaverage. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface: Neyron Rose,Red-Purple Group 58C. Under surface: China Rose, Red-Purple Group 58D.Color (when blooming): Upper surface: light Rose Bengal, Red-PurpleGroup 57D. Under surface: pearly Rose Bengal, Red-Purple Group 57D.Color (at end of opening): Upper surface: light Rose Bengal, Red-PurpleGroup 57D. Under surface: pearly Rose Bengal, Red-Purple Group 57D.Fragrance: light. Lasting quality: good. The blossoms commonly lastapproximately 7 to 10 days on the plant. The blossom life is influencedby the environmental conditions that are encountered. Petal drop: good.Petal form: outer petals are rounded with a cordiform base, and theinner petals are oval with a cuneate base. Petal number: approximately75 to 80 on average. Stamen number: approximately 91 on average.Anthers: pinkish-ochre in coloration. Filaments: typical and greenish incoloration. Pistils: approximately 115 on average. Stigmas: typical, andgreenish in coloration. Styles: greenish in coloration. Receptacle:smooth, medium green in coloration, and in longitudinal section in theshape of a large pitcher.

Development:

Vegetation.--Very strong.

Blooming.--Continuous and very abundant.

Aptitude to bear fruit.--Good.

Resistance to diseases.--Very good especially with respect to Marssoninaand block spot diseases.

Blossom resistance to rain.--Very good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsin abundance attractive Rose Bengal blossoms, (b) exhibits a bushygrowth habit, (c) exhibits blossoms having a light fragrance, (d) formsattractive dense medium green and glossy vegetation, (e) exhibits goodresistance to Marssonina and black spot, and (f) is particularly wellsuited for growing as ornamentation in the landscape;substantially asherein shown and described.